Turkey to comply with EU in livestock bourses

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Turkey will add 24 livestock markets and livestock exchanges to the current 94 . The Agriculture and Livestock Ministry aims to modernize them to comply with EU standards. Hürriyet photo

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock has started a study to establish modern livestock markets in Turkey, by joining forces with the Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). 

The Ministry aims to lift the standards of local livestock bazaars to the European Union level and plans to increase the number of licensed markets in 43 different provinces, in a bid to prevent speculations and maintain actual prices based on demand and supply.

In a first step, 24 newly licensed markets will be established. The total estimated cost of the new establishments is nearly 34 million liras.

The ministry is also working on arrangements to provide better procedures and environments for the well-being of the animals transported to the markets for sale.

The animals and vehicles that transport the animals will have to be put through a hygiene tunnel, before the animals are disinfected against contagious diseases in separate rooms. The markets will also feature special partitions for animals to rest and be foddered.

Responsible managers, vets and caretakers will be employed at livestock selling places, where there will also be included offices, cafes, utilities. There are currently a total of 94 livestock markets in Turkey. Some 84 of them are licensed livestock bazaars and the rest are bourses. 

Such efforts will encourage trade and support the development of higher standards and quality, to maintain healthy livestock markets, he said.

Obstacles to the industry

The Turkish government is working on lifting obstacles to the local dairy industry that prevent it from exporting to the European Union, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker said yesterday at an industry-wide meeting.

“We have made Turkey comply with EU standards, which are accepted as a reference in terms of food security,” he said, noting that the ministry was fighting to secure a brighter future for the dairy and other food industries. The minister also said a regulatory body regarding the dairy industry was being established. “[The draft law regarding] the regulatory body is in final stage. Soon it will be sent to the Cabinet.”

Turkey’s Meat and Fish Institute (EBK) could assume the role of the regulatory body, he added.